Abstract
This article aims to contribute to the analysis of the logical arguments in Grounded Theory (GT), both in the version of Glaser (Basics of Grounded Theory analysis: emergence versus forcing, 1992) and of Strauss and Corbin (Basics of qualitative research, 1990). The article will focus both on stages of the coding process—that could be considered the core of the overall process of theorizing in GT—both on logic of GT, analysing in particular whether GT makes use of abductive thinking. The article outlines the distinction between different modes of abductive reasoning, and focuses specifically on one of them: the “creative abduction” (Eco and Sebeok, The sign of three: Dupin, Holmes, Peirce, 1983). The distinction between different forms of abductive argument appears especially useful to explore the logic of GT. By introducing this distinction, the article discuss how theorizing in GT makes use—both in Glaser and in Strauss and Corbin—of the same type of abductive reasoning: the creative abduction. According to this analysis, the differences between the two versions of GT turn out to be much less severe.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bryant, A., Charmaz, K.: Grounded theory in historical perspective: an epistemological account. In: Bryant, A., Charmaz, K. (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Grounded Theory, pp. 31–57. Sage, London (2007)
Bruschi, A.: Metodologia delle scienze sociali. Bruno Mondatori, Milano (1999)
Bonfantini, M. A., Proni G.: To guess or not to guess? In: Eco, U., Sebeok, T. A.: The sign of Three: Dupin, Holmes, Peirce (Italian Trans., Il segno dei tre, Milano, Holmes, Dupin, Peirce, Bompiani, Milano). Indiana University Press, Bloomington, pp. 137–156 (1983)
Charmaz, K.: Costructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park (2006)
Clarke, A.E.: Situational analyses. Grounded theory mapping after the postmodern turn. Symb Interact 26(4), 553–576 (2003)
Clarke, A.: Grounded Theory After the Postmodern Turn. Sage, London (2004)
Corbin J.: Going from raw data to theory. Paper presented at the 2nd Global Congress of Qualitative Health Research. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milano (2012)
Eco, U., Sebeok, T. A.: The Sign of Three: Dupin, Holmes, Peirce (Italian Trans., Il segno dei tre, Milano, Holmes, Dupin, Peirce, Bompiani, Milano). Indiana University Press, Bloomington (1983)
Eco U.: Corna, zoccoli e scarpe: tre tipi di abduzione, In: I limiti dell’interpretazione. Milano, Bompiani (1990)
Glaser, B.G.: Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory. Sociology Press, Mill Valley (1978)
Glaser, B.G.: Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis: Emergence Versus Forcing. Sociology Press, Mill Valley (1992)
Glaser, B.: Examples of Grounded Theory, a Reader. Sociology Press, Mill Valley (1993)
Glaser, B.: Doing Grounded Theory: Issues and Discussions. Sociology Press, Mill Valley (1998)
Glaser, B.: Staying open: the use of theoretical codes in GT. Grounded Theory Rev 12(1 (3)), 3–8 (2013)
Glaser, B.G., Strauss, A.L.: The Awareness of Dying. Aldine de Gruyter, Chicago (1965)
Glaser, B.G., Strauss, A.L.: The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Aldine de Gruyter, Chicago (1967)
Hammersley M.: A Historical and comparative note on the relationship between analytic induction and grounded theorising. Forum Qual Soc Res, vol. 6, issue 2, article no. 4 (2010)
Kelle U.: Emergence versus forcing of empirical data? A crucial. Problem of Grounded Theory. Forum Qual Soc Res, vol. 6, issue 2. Article no. 27 (2005)
Losee, J.: A historical introduction to the Philosophy of Science. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1972)
Marradi, A.: Metodologia delle scienze sociali. Il Mulino, Bologna (2007)
Marradi, A.: Misurazione, esperimenti, leggi: il sillogismo scientista. Quaderni di sociologia 3, 101–139 (2010)
Merton R. K.: The travels and adventures of serendipity: a study in sociological semantics and the sociology of science. Manuscript version (1992), (Italian Trans., Viaggi e avventure della Serendipity. Saggio di semantica sociologica e sociologia della scienza). Il Mulino, Bologna (2002)
Morse, J.: Developing Grounded Theory. The Second Generation. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek (2009)
Peirce C.S.: Collected Paper. In: Weiss, P.H.C., The Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (1974, 1979)
Platt, J.: A History of Sociological Research Method in America, 1920–1960. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1996)
Reichertz, J.: Abduction: the logic of discovery of grounded theory. In: Bryant, A., Charmaz, K. (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Grounded Theory, pp. 214–228. Sage, London (2007)
Reichertz J.: Abduction: the logic of discovery of grounded theory. Forum Qual Soc Res, vol. 11, issue 1, Article no. 13 (2010)
Sacchetti, F.: Processi di categorizzazione in etnografia. Il ruolo degli impliciti e delle categorie ex ante. Bonanno, Catania (2014)
Star, S.L.: Living grounded theory: cognitive and emotional forms of pragmatism. In: Bryant, A., Charmaz, K. (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Grounded Theory, pp. 75–94. Sage, London (2007)
Strati, A.: La grounded theory. In: Ricolfi, L. (ed.) La ricerca qualitativa. Carocci, Roma (1997)
Strauss, A.: Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientist. University Press, Cambridge (1987)
Strauss, A., Corbin, J.: Basics of qualitative research. Sage, Thousand Oaks (1990)
Strauss, A.: Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide. Sage, London (1998)
Strübing, J.: Research as pragmatic problem-solving: the pragmatist routs of empirical-grounded theorizing. In: Bryant, A., Charmaz, K. (eds.) The Sage Handbook of Grounded Theory, pp. 580–602. Sage, London (2007)
Tarozzi, M.: Che cos’è la Grounded Theory. Carocci, Roma (2008)
Walton, D.: Abductive Reasoning. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa (2004)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The author declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Human and animal informed consent
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bruscaglioni, L. Theorizing in Grounded Theory and creative abduction. Qual Quant 50, 2009–2024 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-015-0248-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-015-0248-3